Highways England has awarded the first of three contracts to transform concrete road surfaces in a number of regions across the UK.

The framework will include a number of companies that will be appointed work on different aspects of the project over the next four years.

Consultants Atkins and Aecom will work with Highways England to provide the design, supervision and project management services on a nationwide programme to repair and replace the surface on its network, that were originally built in the 1960s and 1970s.

The project is part of a £400m programme to improve the quality of 600 miles of existing concrete roads, with this Design Framework contact worth £39m.

 A total of eight specialist contractors will also be selected to deliver targeted repairs to extend the life of the existing concrete pavement. Two suppliers will be selected to deliver each of the four identified specialist activities: joint repairs, bay replacements, surface treatments and slab levelling, with two more contracts to be awarded later in the year.